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US9789702B2 - Printer - Google Patents

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US9789702B2
US9789702B2 US14/633,728 US201514633728A US9789702B2 US 9789702 B2 US9789702 B2 US 9789702B2 US 201514633728 A US201514633728 A US 201514633728A US 9789702 B2 US9789702 B2 US 9789702B2
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United States
Prior art keywords
print
recording medium
above described
tape
feeding
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
US14/633,728
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English (en)
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US20150246567A1 (en
Inventor
Junya Kawai
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Brother Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Brother Industries Ltd
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Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KAWAI, JUNYA
Publication of US20150246567A1 publication Critical patent/US20150246567A1/en
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Publication of US9789702B2 publication Critical patent/US9789702B2/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B41J3/4075—Tape printers; Label printers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/36—Blanking or long feeds; Feeding to a particular line, e.g. by rotation of platen or feed roller
    • B41J11/42—Controlling printing material conveyance for accurate alignment of the printing material with the printhead; Print registering
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
    • B41J2/325—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
    • B41J2/375—Protection arrangements against overheating

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a printer that performs desired printing on a recording medium.
  • a printer comprising a feeder configured to feed a recording medium along a predetermined feeding path, a thermal head comprising heating elements that face the predetermined feeding path, a conducting device configured to conduct current to the heating elements, and a first control portion configured to control the feeder and the conducting device to perform printing on the recording medium, the first control portion executing a first processing for performing printing on the recording medium while feeding the recording medium to a forward direction along the predetermined feeding path, based on first print data, a second processing for performing printing on a first predetermined section of the recording medium while continuously feeding the recording medium to the forward direction along the predetermined feeding path, based on second print data that differs from the first print data, triggered by receipt of a print stop instruction from an external source in the middle of the first processing, and a third processing for feeding the recording medium to a reverse direction opposite the forward direction along the feeding path and, with current conduction to the heating elements stopped, making the heating elements face the first pre
  • a printer comprising a feeder configured to feed a recording medium along a predetermined feeding path, a thermal head comprising heating elements that face the predetermined feeding path, a conducting device configured to conduct current to the heating elements, and a second control portion configured to control the feeder and the conducting device to perform printing on the recording medium, the second control portion executing a fifth processing for performing printing on the recording medium while feeding the recording medium to a forward direction along the predetermined feeding path, based on third print data, a sixth processing for making the heating elements face a second predetermined section of the recording medium for a second predetermined amount of time with current conduction to the heating elements stopped, triggered by receipt of a print stop instruction from an external source in the middle of the fifth processing, a seventh processing for feeding the recording medium to a reverse direction opposite the forward direction along the feeding path, after the sixth processing, and an eighth processing for performing printing on the second predetermined section of the recording medium based on fourth print data that differs
  • a print stop instruction when a print stop instruction is received, printing is performed on a first predetermined section and the heating elements to which current conduction has stopped are then made to face the first predetermined section for a first predetermined amount of time (or the heating elements to which current conduction has stopped are made to face a second predetermined section for a second predetermined amount of time, and then printing is performed on the second predetermined section), thereby reducing the appearance of smudges.
  • this arrangement it is possible to improve aesthetics.
  • a printer comprising a feeder configured to feed a recording medium along a predetermined feeding path, a thermal head comprising heating elements that face the predetermined feeding path, a conducting device configured to conduct current to the heating elements, and a third control portion configured to control the feeder and the conducting device to perform printing on the recording medium, the third control portion executing a ninth processing for performing printing on the recording medium while feeding the recording medium to a forward direction along the predetermined feeding path, based on fifth print data, a tenth processing for performing printing on a third predetermined section of the recording medium while continuously feeding the recording medium to the forward direction along the predetermined feeding path, based on sixth print data that differs from the fifth print data, triggered by receipt of a print stop instruction from an external source in the middle of the ninth processing, an eleventh processing for making the heating elements face a fourth predetermined section adjacent to the third predetermined section of the recording medium for a third predetermined amount of time, with current conduction
  • the heating elements to which current conduction has stopped are then made to face a fourth predetermined section adjacent to the third predetermined section for a third predetermined amount of time, and subsequently printing is performed on a fifth predetermined section adjacent to the fourth predetermined section, thereby reducing the appearance of smudges.
  • this arrangement it is possible to improve aesthetics.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the tape printer related to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the tape printer.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the tape printer with the first, second, and frontward-side opening/closing covers open.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the tape printer with the first, second, and frontward-side opening/closing covers open and the tape cartridge and ink ribbon cartridge removed.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the tape cartridge.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the ink ribbon cartridge.
  • FIG. 7 is a function block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the tape printer.
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control procedure executed by the print control portion of the CPU.
  • FIG. 9A is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by a comparison example of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 9B is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by the comparison example.
  • FIG. 9C is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by the comparison example.
  • FIG. 9D is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by the comparison example.
  • FIG. 9E is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by the comparison example.
  • FIG. 9F is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by the comparison example.
  • FIG. 10A is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 10B is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 10C is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 10D is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 10E is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 10F is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 10G is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 11 is a conceptual view showing the relative positional relationship between the printing head and tape with print.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control procedure executed by the CPU.
  • FIG. 13A is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13B is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13C is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13D is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13E is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13F is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13G is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print by embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 14 is a conceptual view showing the relative positional relationship between the printing head and tape with print.
  • FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the control procedure executed by the print control portion of the CPU.
  • FIG. 16A is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in a modification wherein feeding is stopped in a section that is to become a blackened region and then, upon return, the blackened region is formed and filled in the forward direction.
  • FIG. 16B is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 16C is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 16D is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 16E is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 16F is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 16G is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 17 is a conceptual view showing the relative positional relationship between the printing head and tape with print.
  • FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the control procedure executed by the print control portion of the CPU.
  • FIG. 19A is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in a modification wherein a blackened region is formed both during through-down and through-up.
  • FIG. 19B is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 19C is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 19D is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 19E is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 19F is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 19G is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 20 is a conceptual view showing the relative positional relationship between the printing head and tape with print.
  • FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the control procedure executed by the print control portion of the CPU.
  • FIG. 22A is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in a modification wherein the take-up tension is released immediately before reverse feeding.
  • FIG. 22B is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 22C is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 22D is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 22E is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 22F is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 22G is an explanatory view for explaining the pausing and restarting behavior in the production of a tape with print in the modification.
  • FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the control procedure executed by the print control portion of the CPU.
  • a tape printer 1 in this embodiment comprises a housing 2 that constitutes the apparatus outer contour.
  • the housing 2 comprises a housing main body 2 a , a rearward-side opening/closing part 8 , and a frontward-side opening/closing cover 9 .
  • the housing main body 2 a comprises a first storage part 3 disposed on the rearward side, and a second storage part 5 and a third storage part 4 disposed on the frontward side.
  • the rearward-side opening/closing part 8 is connected to an upper area of the rearward side of the housing main body 2 a in an openable and closeable manner. This rearward-side opening/closing part 8 is capable of opening and closing the area above the first storage part 3 by pivoting.
  • the rearward-side opening/closing part 8 comprises a first opening/closing cover 8 a and a second opening/closing cover 8 b.
  • the first opening/closing cover 8 a is capable of opening and closing the area above the frontward side of the first storage part 3 by pivoting around a predetermined pivot axis K 1 disposed in the upper area of the rearward side of the housing main body 2 a .
  • the first opening/closing cover 8 a is capable of pivoting from a closed position (the states in FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in which it covers the area above the frontward side of the first storage part 3 , to an open position (the states in FIGS. 3 and 4 ) in which it exposes the area above the frontward side of the first storage part 3 .
  • a head holding body 10 is disposed in the interior of the first opening/closing cover 8 a (refer to FIG. 3 as well). Then, the first opening/closing cover 8 a pivots around the above described pivot axis K 1 , making it possible to move a printing head 11 (specifically, the thermal head) disposed on the head holding body 10 relatively closer to or farther away from a feeding roller 12 disposed on the housing main body 2 a .
  • the first opening/closing cover 8 a is capable of pivoting from a closed position (the states in FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in which the printing head 11 is close to the feeding roller 12 , to an open position (the states in FIGS. 3 and 4 ) in which the printing head 11 is far away from the feeding roller 12 .
  • the second opening/closing cover 8 b is disposed further on the rearward side than the above described first opening/closing cover 8 a , and is capable of opening and closing the area above the rearward side of the first storage part 3 separately from the opening and closing of the above described first opening/closing cover 8 a by pivoting around a predetermined pivot axis K 2 disposed on the upper end of the rearward side of the housing main body 2 a .
  • the second opening/closing cover 8 b is capable of pivoting from a closed position (the states in FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in which it covers the area above the rearward side of the first storage part 3 , to an open position (the states in FIGS. 3 and 4 ) in which it exposes the area above the rearward side of the first storage part 3 .
  • first opening/closing cover 8 a and the second opening/closing cover 8 b are configured so that, when each is closed, an outer circumference part 18 of the first opening/closing cover 8 a and an edge part 19 of the second opening/closing cover 8 b substantially contact each other and cover almost the entire area above the first storage part 3 .
  • the frontward-side opening/closing cover 9 is connected to the upper area of the frontward side of the housing main body 2 a in an openable and closeable manner.
  • the frontward-side opening/closing cover 9 is capable of opening and closing the area above the third storage part 4 by pivoting around a predetermined pivot axis K 3 disposed on the upper end of the frontward side of the housing main body 2 a .
  • the frontward-side opening/closing cover 9 is capable of pivoting from a closed position (the states in FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in which it covers the area above the third storage part 4 , to an open position (the states in FIGS. 3 and 4 ) in which it exposes the area above the third storage part 4 .
  • a tape cartridge TK is detachably mounted in a first predetermined position 13 below the frontward-side opening/closing cover 9 (when closed) of the housing main body 2 a .
  • This tape cartridge TK comprises a print-receiving tape roll R 1 wound around and formed on an axis O 1 .
  • the tape cartridge TK comprises the print-receiving tape roll R 1 and a connecting arm 16 , as shown in FIG. 5 .
  • the connecting arm 16 comprises a left and right pair of first bracket parts 20 , 20 disposed on the rearward side, and a left and right pair of second bracket parts 21 , 21 disposed on the frontward side.
  • the first bracket parts 20 , 20 are set so as to sandwich the above described print-receiving tape roll R 1 from both the left and right sides along the axis O 1 via a left and right pair of substantially circular roll flange parts f 1 , f 2 , holding the print-receiving tape roll R 1 rotatably around the axis O 1 with the tape cartridge TK mounted to the housing main body 2 a .
  • These first bracket parts 20 , 20 are connected by a first connecting part 22 that is extended substantially along the left-right direction on the upper end, avoiding interference with the outer diameter of the print-receiving tape roll R 1 .
  • the print-receiving tape roll R 1 is rotatable when the tape cartridge TK is mounted in the interior of the housing main body 2 a .
  • the print-receiving tape roll R 1 winds a print-receiving tape 150 (comprising a print-receiving layer 154 , a base layer 153 , an adhesive layer 152 , and a separation material layer 151 described later; refer to the enlarged view in FIG. 2 ) consumed by feed-out around the axis O 1 in the left-right direction in advance.
  • the print-receiving tape roll R 1 is received in the first storage part 3 from above by the mounting of the above described tape cartridge TK and stored with the axis O 1 of the winding of the print-receiving tape 150 in the left-right direction. Then, the print-receiving tape roll R 1 , stored in the first storage part 3 (with the tape cartridge TK mounted), rotates in a predetermined rotating direction (a direction A in FIG. 2 ) inside the first storage part 3 , thereby feeding out the print-receiving tape 150 .
  • This embodiment illustrates a case where a print-receiving tape 150 comprising adhesive is used. That is, the print-receiving tape 150 is layered in the order of the print-receiving layer 154 , the base layer 153 , the adhesive layer 152 , and the separation material layer 151 , from one side in the thickness direction (upward side in FIG. 2 ) toward the other side (downward side in FIG. 2 ).
  • the print-receiving layer 154 is a layer in which a desired print part 155 (refer to the enlarged partial view in FIG. 2 ) is formed by the heat transfer of ink from the above described printing head 11 .
  • the adhesive layer 152 is a layer for affixing the base layer 153 to a suitable adherent (not shown).
  • the separation material layer 151 is a layer that covers the adhesive layer 152 .
  • the above described feeding roller 12 is disposed on a middle upward side of the first storage part 3 and the second storage part 5 of the housing main body 2 a .
  • the feeding roller 12 is driven by a feeding motor M 1 disposed in the interior of the housing main body 2 a via a gear mechanism (not shown), thereby feeding the print-receiving tape 150 fed out from the print-receiving tape roll R 1 stored in the first storage part 3 in a tape posture in which the tape-width direction is in the left-right direction.
  • the above described head holding part 10 disposed on the first opening/closing cover 8 a comprises the above described printing head 11 .
  • the printing head 11 as described above, is capable of moving relatively closer to or farther away from the feeding roller 12 by the pivoting of the first opening/closing cover 8 a around the pivot axis K 1 . That is, the printing head 11 moves closer to the feeding roller 12 when the first opening/closing cover 8 a is closed, and farther away from the feeding roller 12 when the first opening/closing cover 8 a is opened.
  • This printing head 11 is disposed in a position of the head holding part 10 that faces the area above the feeding roller 12 , with the first opening/closing cover 8 a closed, sandwiching the print-receiving tape 150 fed by the feeding roller 12 in coordination with the feeding roller 12 . Accordingly, when the first opening/closing cover 8 a is closed, the printing head 11 and the feeding roller 12 are disposed facing each other in the up-down direction. Then, the printing head 11 forms the above described print part 155 on the print-receiving layer 154 of the print-receiving tape 150 sandwiched between the printing head 11 and the feeding roller 12 using an ink ribbon IB of an ink ribbon cartridge RK described later, thereby forming a tape 150 ′ with print.
  • the ink ribbon cartridge RK is detachably mounted in a second predetermined position 14 , which is below the first opening/closing cover 8 a (when closed) and above the tape cartridge TK in the housing main body 2 a .
  • FIG. 6 shows the detailed structure of the ink ribbon cartridge RK.
  • the ink ribbon cartridge RK comprises a cartridge housing 80 , a ribbon feed-out roll R 4 which has wound the unused ink ribbon IB in manner that enables feed-out, and a ribbon take-up roll R 5 .
  • the cartridge housing 80 comprises a rearward-side feed-out roll storage part 81 , a frontward-side take-up roll storage part 82 , and a coupling part 83 that couples both of these storage parts 81 , 82 .
  • the coupling part 83 couples the above described take-up roll storage part 82 and the above described feed-out roll storage part 81 while exposing the above described ink ribbon IB fed out from the ribbon feed-out roll R 4 to the outside of the cartridge housing 80 .
  • the feed-out roll storage part 81 is configured by combining a substantially semi-cylindrical upper part 81 a and lower part 81 b .
  • the ribbon feed-out roll R 4 is rotatably supported inside the feed-out roll storage part 81 , and rotates in a predetermined rotating direction (a direction D in FIG. 2 ) with the ink ribbon cartridge RK mounted, thereby feeding out the ink ribbon IB for print formation by the printing head 11 .
  • the take-up roll storage part 82 is configured by combining a substantially semi-cylindrical upper part 82 a and lower part 82 b .
  • the ribbon take-up roll R 5 is rotatably supported inside the take-up roll storage part 82 and rotates in a predetermined rotating direction (a direction E in FIG. 2 ) with the ink ribbon cartridge RK mounted, thereby taking up the used ink ribbon IB after print formation.
  • the ink ribbon IB fed out from the ribbon feed-out roll R 4 is disposed further on the printing head 11 side of the print-receiving tape 150 sandwiched between the printing head 11 and the feeding roller 12 , contacting the area below the printing head 11 . Then, current is conducted to the heating elements corresponding to the entire width-direction region of the ink ribbon IB to perform printing on the print-receiving tape 150 . After the ink of the ink ribbon IB is thus transferred to the print-receiving layer 154 of the print-receiving tape 150 by the heat from the printing head 11 and print formation is executed, the used ink ribbon IB is taken up on the ribbon take-up roll R 5 .
  • the connecting arm 16 of the tape cartridge TK comprises a peeling part 17 that includes a substantially horizontal slit shape, for example.
  • This peeling part 17 is an area that peels the separation material layer 151 from the tape 150 ′ with print fed out from the print-receiving tape roll R 1 and fed to the frontward side.
  • the above described peeling part 17 peels the above described separation material layer 151 from the tape 150 ′ with print on which print was formed as described above, thereby separating the separation material layer 151 and a tape 150 ′′ with print made of the other layers, i.e., the print-receiving layer 154 , the base layer 153 , and the adhesive layer 152 .
  • the tape cartridge TK as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 , comprises a separation material roll R 3 formed by winding the above described peeled separation material layer 151 around an axis O 3 . That is, the separation material roll R 3 is received in the above described second storage part 5 from above by the mounting of the aforementioned tape cartridge TK and stored with the axis O 3 for winding the separation material layer in the left-right direction. Then, the separation material roll R 3 , stored in the second storage part 5 (with the tape cartridge TK mounted), is driven by a separation sheet take-up motor M 3 disposed inside the housing main body 2 a via a gear mechanism (not shown) and rotates in a predetermined rotating direction (a direction C in FIG. 2 ) inside the second storage part 5 , thereby taking up the separation material layer 151 .
  • a separation sheet take-up motor M 3 disposed inside the housing main body 2 a via a gear mechanism (not shown) and rotates in a predetermined rotating direction (a direction C in FIG. 2
  • the above described second bracket parts 21 , 21 of the tape cartridge TK are set so that the above described separation material roll R 3 is sandwiched from both the left and right sides along the axis O 3 , holding the separation material roll R 3 rotatably around the axis O 3 with the tape cartridge TK mounted to the housing main body 2 a .
  • These second bracket parts 21 , 21 are connected by a second connecting part 23 extended substantially along the left-right direction on the upper end.
  • the first bracket parts 20 , 20 and the first connecting part 22 on the rearward side, and the second bracket parts 21 , 21 and the second connecting part 23 on the frontward side are connected by a left and right pair of roll connecting beam parts 24 , 24 .
  • FIG. 5 shows the state before the separation material layer 151 is wound around the axis O 3 and the separation material roll R 3 is formed (the case of the unused tape cartridge TK). That is, FIG. 5 shows substantially circular roll flange parts f 3 , f 4 disposed so as to sandwich both width-direction sides of the separation material layer 151 , and conveniently denotes the location where the separation material roll R 3 is formed using the reference number “R 3 .”
  • a take-up mechanism 40 comprising a winding core 41 for sequentially winding the above described tape 150 ′′ with print is received in the above described third storage part 4 from above.
  • the take-up mechanism 40 is stored so that the above described winding core 41 is supported rotatably around an axis O 2 of the winding of the tape 150 ′′ with print, with the axis O 2 in the left-right direction.
  • the winding core 41 is driven by an adhesive take-up motor M 2 that is disposed in the interior of the housing main body 2 a via a gear mechanism (not shown) and rotates in a predetermined rotating direction (a direction B in FIG.
  • the tape 150 ′′ with print is sequentially wound around the outer circumference side of the winding core 41 , forming a tape roll R 2 with print.
  • a cutter mechanism 30 is disposed on the downstream side of the printing head 11 and the upstream side of the tape roll R 2 with print, along the tape transport direction.
  • the cutter mechanism 30 while not shown in detail, comprises a movable blade and a carriage that supports the movable blade and is capable of travelling in the tape-width direction (in other words, the left-right direction). Then, the carriage travels by the driving of a cutter motor MC (refer to FIG. 7 described later) and the movable blade moves in the tape-width direction, cutting the above described tape 150 ′′ with print in the width direction.
  • a cutter motor MC (refer to FIG. 7 described later) and the movable blade moves in the tape-width direction, cutting the above described tape 150 ′′ with print in the width direction.
  • the print-receiving tape roll R 1 is stored in the first storage part 3 positioned on the rearward side of the housing main body 2 a
  • the axis O 3 side that forms the separation material roll R 3 is stored in the second storage part 5 positioned on the frontward side of the housing main body 2 a
  • the take-up mechanism 40 for forming the tape roll R 2 with print is stored in the third storage part 4 positioned on the frontward side of the housing main body 2 a.
  • the user manually peels the separation material layer 151 from the print-receiving tape 150 (printing has not yet begun at this point in time), and attaches the tip end of the tape made of the base layer 153 and the adhesive layer 152 to the winding core 41 of the above described take-up mechanism 40 . Then, when the feeding roller 12 is driven, the print-receiving tape 150 fed out by the rotation of the print-receiving tape roll R 1 stored in the first storage part 3 is fed to the frontward side.
  • the above described print part 155 (specifically configured by an image IM, a blackened region Q, and the like described later) is formed by the printing head 11 on the print-receiving layer 154 of the fed print-receiving tape 150 , forming a tape 150 ′ with print.
  • the separation material layer 151 is peeled at the peeling part 17 , forming the tape 150 ′′ with print.
  • the peeled separation material layer 151 is fed to the downward side, introduced to and wound inside the second storage part 5 , forming the separation material roll R 3 .
  • the tape 150 ′′ with print from which the separation material layer 151 has been peeled is further fed to the frontward side, introduced to the third storage part 4 , and wound around the outer circumference side of the winding core 41 of the take-up mechanism 40 inside the third storage part 4 , thereby forming the tape roll R 2 with print.
  • the cutter mechanism 30 disposed on the transport direction downstream side cuts the tape 150 ′′ with print.
  • the tape 150 ′′ with print wound around the tape roll R 2 with print can be cut based on a timing preferred by the user and the tape roll R 2 with print can be removed from the third storage part 4 after cutting.
  • a non-adhesive tape (one without the above described adhesive layer 152 and separation material layer 151 ) may be wound around the print-receiving tape roll R 1 .
  • the print-receiving tape roll R 1 which winds the non-adhesive tape is received in the first storage part 3 from above by the mounting of the tape cartridge TK and stored with the axis O 1 of the winding of the non-adhesive tape in the left-right direction. Then, the print-receiving tape roll R 1 , stored in the first storage part 3 (with the tape cartridge TK mounted), rotates in a predetermined rotating direction (the direction A in FIG. 2 ) inside the first storage part 3 , thereby feeding out the non-adhesive tape.
  • a shoot 15 for switching the feeding path of the above described non-adhesive tape (or the above described print-receiving tape 150 ) between a side toward the tape roll R 2 with print and a side toward the discharging exit (not shown) may be disposed. That is, the non-adhesive tape after print formation (or the tape 150 ′′ with print) may be discharged as is from the discharging exit (not shown) disposed on the second opening/closing cover 8 b side, for example, of the housing 2 to the outside of the housing 2 without being wound inside the third storage part 4 as described later by switching the tape path by a switch operation of the shoot 15 using a switch lever (not shown).
  • the tape printer 1 comprises a CPU 212 that constitutes a computing part that performs predetermined computations.
  • the CPU 212 is connected to a RAM 213 and a ROM 214 .
  • the CPU 212 performs signal processing in accordance with a program stored in advance in the ROM 214 while utilizing a temporary storage function of the RAM 213 , and controls the entire tape printer 1 accordingly.
  • the CPU 212 is connected to a motor driving circuit 218 that controls the driving of the above described feeding motor M 1 that drives the above described feeding roller 12 , a motor driving circuit 219 that controls the driving of the above described adhesive take-up motor M 2 that drives the winding core 41 of the above described take-up mechanism 40 , a motor driving circuit 220 that controls the driving of the above described separation sheet take-up motor M 3 that drives the above described separation material roll R 3 , a printing head control circuit 221 that controls the current conduction of the heating elements (not shown) of the above described printing head 11 , a motor driving circuit 222 that controls the driving of the cutter motor MC that causes the carriage comprising the above described movable blade to travel, a display part 215 that performs suitable displays, and an operation part 216 that permits suitable operation input by the user.
  • the CPU 212 is connected to a PC 217 serving as an external terminal in this example, the CPU 212 does not need to be connected in a case where the tape printer 1 operates alone (a so-called all-called
  • the ROM 214 stores control programs for executing predetermined control processing (including programs that execute the flow processing in FIG. 8 , FIG. 12 , FIG. 15 , FIG. 18 , FIG. 21 , and FIG. 23 described later).
  • the RAM 213 comprises an image buffer 213 a that expands print data (refer to step S 204 described later) generated in correspondence with an operation of the above described operation part 216 (or the PC 217 ) by an operator into dot pattern data for printing in a predetermined print area of the above described print-receiving layer 154 , and stores the data, for example.
  • the CPU 212 repeatedly prints one image (hereinafter suitably referred to as “unit print image”) corresponding to the above described dot pattern data stored in the image buffer 213 a on the print-receiving tape 150 by the printing head 11 while feeding out the print-receiving tape 150 by the feeding roller 12 , based on the above described control programs.
  • so-called cooling is executed in order to suppress the overheating of the printing head 11 resulting from continuous movement, pausing print formation. That is, as shown in FIG. 7 , in the tape printer 1 of this embodiment, a temperature sensor SR that detects the temperature of the printing head 11 is disposed and connected to the CPU 212 . At this time, the CPU 212 functionally comprises a print control portion 212 A and a cooling control portion 212 B.
  • the print control portion 212 A executes each of the procedures of the flow in FIG. 8 described later, thereby controlling the printing head 11 , the feeding roller 12 , the cutter mechanism 30 , and the like in coordination with each other.
  • the cooling control portion 212 B outputs a pause instruction signal (details described later) to the print control portion 212 A based on the detection result of the above described temperature sensor SR.
  • FIG. 8 shows a flowchart indicating the processing content executed by the above described cooling control portion 212 B.
  • the cooling control portion 212 B of the CPU 212 first, in step S 110 and step S 120 , sets a print stop temperature T 1 at which print formation by the printing head 11 is stopped, and a restart temperature T 2 for restarting print formation once again after it stops, respectively.
  • values stored in suitable storage means in advance may be read and stored in the RAM 213 , or values corresponding to an operation of the operation part 216 (or the above described PC 217 ) by the user may be acquired and stored in the RAM 213 .
  • the flow proceeds to step S 130 .
  • step S 130 the cooling control portion 212 B determines whether or not a temperature T of the printing head 11 is at least the above described print stop temperature T 1 (if T ⁇ T 1 ), based on the detection result of the above described temperature sensor SR. During the period T ⁇ T 1 , the condition of step S 130 is not satisfied (S 130 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state. Once T ⁇ T 1 , the condition of step S 130 is satisfied (S 130 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 140 .
  • step S 140 the cooling control portion 212 B outputs the aforementioned pause instruction signal to the print control portion 212 A. As a result, pause control of tape feeding and print formation by the print control portion 212 A is performed.
  • step S 150 the cooling control portion 212 B determines whether or not the temperature T of the printing head 11 is the above described restart temperature T 2 or less (if T ⁇ T 2 ), based on the detection result of the above described temperature sensor SR. During the period T>T 2 , the condition of step S 150 is not satisfied (S 150 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state. Once T ⁇ T 2 , the condition of step S 150 is satisfied (S 150 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 160 .
  • step S 160 the cooling control portion 212 B outputs a production restart instruction signal (details described later) to the print control portion 212 A.
  • a production restart instruction signal (details described later)
  • control that restarts the tape feeding and print formation by the print control portion 212 A is performed. Subsequently, this process terminates here.
  • the special characteristic of this embodiment configured as described above lies in the technique for reducing the appearance of smudges (a pseudo-printing section G described later) that may occur on the print-receiving tape 150 by the remaining heat in the printing head 11 when the print formation movement is stopped by execution of the above described cooling during printing movement.
  • a pseudo-printing section G described later a pseudo-printing section G described later
  • FIGS. 9A-9F The following describes in detail the behavior by which the above described smudges occur using the comparison example shown in FIGS. 9A-9F .
  • the above described unit print image (a specific character string translated into an image or one image that includes a specific visual object) is repeatedly formed in a plurality along the transport direction, thereby producing the above described tape 150 ′′ with print.
  • FIG. 9A shows the state immediately after feed-out of the print-receiving tape 150 from the print-receiving tape roll R 1 has been started.
  • the tip end of the print-receiving tape 150 has not yet arrived at the position of the printing head 11 , and formation of the image IM (including the text “Thank you” and border lines on both width-direction sides in this example) on the print-receiving tape 150 by the printing head 11 has not started.
  • the feeding of the print-receiving tape 150 (in other words, the feeding of the tapes 150 ′, 150 ′′ with print; hereinafter suitably simply referred to as “the feeding of the print-receiving tape 150 ”) further advances from this state at a predetermined constant speed, the print-receiving tape 150 arrives at the position of the printing head 11 , and print formation of the above described image IM (specifically, a first image IM 1 ) is started (refer to FIG. 9B and FIG. 9C ). When formation of one image IM 1 ends, formation of the following image IM 2 is started next using the same dot pattern data (refer to FIG. 9D ).
  • image IM 1 , image IM 2 , image IM 3 , . . . which have the same content, are sequentially formed on the print-receiving tape 150 , producing the tape 150 ′′ with print.
  • image IM 1 , image IM 2 , image IM 3 , . . . and the like are described without any particular distinction, the image will suitably be simply expressed as “the image IM.”
  • FIGS. 10A-10C which are the same as those in FIGS. 9A-9C , and, in a case where the above described pause instruction is performed immediately after print formation of the text character “T” in the image IM 2 in the same manner as described above in FIG. 10D , deceleration is not simply started to stop the feeding as in the above described comparison example, but rather the feeding is stopped while the blackened region Q is formed into print in the border area between the image IM 2 and the following image IM 3 that is to be formed next.
  • FIG. 11 is a view conceptually showing the relative positional relationship between the printing head 11 and the tape 150 ′′ with print at this time.
  • the pseudo-printing section G that occurs on the tape 150 ′′ with print when feeding is stopped due to cooling is embedded in the above described blackened region Q, as shown in FIG. 10G .
  • the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the feeding may be stopped by the above described deceleration while the blackened region Q is formed into print in the middle of print formation of the image IM 2 (the same holds true for embodiment 2 and each modification described later as well).
  • the blackened region Q is a print region resulting from so-called full dot printing in the above described example
  • the color is not limited to black and may be a color other than black as long as the pseudo-printing section G can be embedded.
  • the printing is not limited to full dot printing and may be shaded printing, a zebra pattern, a checkered pattern, a hatch pattern, or the like in which the number of dots is thinned to a certain extent, and further may be a technique that conceals the pseudo-printing section G by a listing of a great number of text characters, logos, or visual objects, or the like (the same holds true for embodiment 2 and each modification described later as well).
  • the following describes the processing content executed by the print control portion 212 A of the CPU 212 for achieving the above described technique, using the flow in FIG. 12 .
  • the flow is started by the user turning ON the power of the tape printer 1 , for example (“START” position).
  • step S 202 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not a production start instruction signal for the above described tape 150 ′′ with print corresponding to a production start operation of the operation part 216 (or the above described PC 217 ) by the user has been input. If the above described production start instruction signal corresponding to the production start intention of the user has not been input, the condition of step S 202 is not satisfied (S 202 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state. If the above described production start instruction signal has been input, the condition of step S 202 is satisfied (S 202 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 203 .
  • step S 203 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not total length data indicating the total length along the transport direction of the above described tape 150 ′′ with print to be produced, corresponding to an operation of the operation part 216 (or the above described PC 217 ) by the user, has been input. If the above described total length data corresponding to the tape total length intended by the user has not been input, the condition of step S 203 is not satisfied (S 203 : NO), the flow returns to the above described step S 202 , and the same procedure is repeated. If the above described total length data has been input, the condition of step S 203 is satisfied (S 203 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 204 .
  • step S 204 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not print data corresponding to one image IM (refer to FIG. 9 , FIG. 10 , and the like) to be repeatedly formed into print on the above described print-receiving tape 150 has been input based on an operation of the operation part 216 (or the above described PC 217 ) by the user.
  • step S 204 If the print data has not been input, the condition of step S 204 is not satisfied (S 204 : NO), the flow returns to the above described step S 202 , and the same procedure is repeated. If the above described print data has been input, the condition of step S 204 is satisfied (S 204 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 205 .
  • step S 205 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 , starts the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 , and starts the feeding of the above described print-receiving tape 150 , the tape 150 ′ with print, and the tape 150 ′′ with print (hereinafter, suitably simply referred to as “tape feeding”) as well as the take-up of the above described tape 150 ′′ with print.
  • tape feeding suitably simply referred to as “tape feeding”
  • step S 215 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the corresponding print start position by a known technique, based on the print data acquired in the above described step S 204 . If the tape feeding has not arrived at the print start position, the condition is not satisfied (S 215 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until this condition is satisfied. If the feeding has arrived at the print start position, the condition is satisfied (S 215 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 220 .
  • step S 220 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the printing head control circuit 221 , and current is conducted to the heating elements of the printing head 11 , thereby starting the repeated print formation of the above described image IM (refer to FIG. 9 , FIG. 10 , and the like) on the above described print-receiving tape 150 . Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S 224 .
  • step S 224 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described pause instruction signal from the above described cooling control portion 212 B (refer to step S 140 in the above described FIG. 8 ) has been input. If the above described pause instruction signal has not been input, the condition of step S 224 is not satisfied (S 224 : NO), and the flow proceeds to step S 300 described later. If the above described pause instruction signal has been input, the condition of step S 224 is satisfied (S 224 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 225 .
  • step S 225 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 based on the pause instruction signal input in the above described step S 224 , controls the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 in accordance with the above described deceleration pattern, and starts the deceleration of the above described tape feeding.
  • step S 230 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the start position (transport-direction downstream-side end) of the above described blackened region Q in the border area between the two adjacent images IM, IM by a known technique, based on the print data acquired in the above described step S 204 .
  • the condition of step S 230 is not satisfied (S 230 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until the condition of step S 230 is satisfied. If the feeding has arrived at the start position of the above described blackened region Q, the condition of step S 230 is satisfied (S 230 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 235 .
  • step S 235 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the printing head control circuit 221 , and current is conducted to the heating elements of the printing head 11 , thereby starting the print formation of the blackened region Q on the above described print-receiving tape 150 .
  • the print data for forming the blackened region Q at this time is stored in the RAM 213 in advance, for example.
  • step S 240 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the center position of the above described blackened region Q by a known technique, based on the print data acquired in the above described step S 204 .
  • the condition of step S 240 is not satisfied (S 240 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until the condition of step S 240 is satisfied.
  • the condition of step S 240 is satisfied (S 240 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 245 .
  • step S 245 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 and the printing head control circuit 221 , and stops the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 , thereby stopping the tape feeding and current conduction to the heating elements of the above described printing head 11 as well as print formation of the above described blackened region Q.
  • step S 250 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the production restart instruction signal from the above described cooling control portion 212 B (refer to step S 160 in the above described FIG. 8 ) has been input.
  • the condition of step S 250 is not satisfied (S 250 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until the condition of step S 250 is satisfied. If the above described production restart instruction signal has been input, the condition of step S 250 is satisfied (S 250 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 255 .
  • step S 255 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 , controls the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 in accordance with the above described acceleration pattern, and restarts the above-described tape feeding and the take-up of the above described tape 150 ′′ with print, accelerating the speed.
  • the print control portion 212 A similar to the above described step S 235 , outputs a control signal to the printing head control circuit 221 , conducts current to the heating elements of the printing head 11 , and restarts print formation of the above described blackened region Q.
  • the print data for forming the blackened region Q at this time is stored in the RAM 213 in advance, for example. Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S 260 .
  • step S 260 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the end position (transport-direction upstream-side end) of the above described blackened region Q by a known technique, based on the print data acquired in the above described step S 204 .
  • the condition of step S 260 is not satisfied (S 260 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until the condition of step S 260 is satisfied. If the feeding has arrived at the end position of the above described blackened region Q, the condition of step S 260 is satisfied (S 260 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 265 .
  • step S 265 the print control portion 212 A, similar to the above described step S 245 , outputs a control signal to the printing head control circuit 221 , and stops conducting current to the heating elements of the printing head 11 and print formation of the above described blackened region Q.
  • step S 300 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived where the printing head 11 faces an all print end position where print formation of all of the above described images IM ends by a known technique, based on the total length data acquired in the above described step S 203 and the print data acquired in step S 204 . If the tape feeding has not arrived at the all print end position, the condition is not satisfied (S 300 : NO), the flow returns to the step S 220 , and the same procedure is repeated. As are result, the aforementioned formation of the image IM continues. On the other hand, if the tape feeding has arrived at the print end position, the condition is satisfied (S 300 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 305 .
  • step S 305 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the printing head control circuit 221 , and stops conducting current to the heating elements of the printing head 11 and print formation (formation of the print part 155 ) on the above described print-receiving tape 150 .
  • the tape feeding is continually performed. With this arrangement, a blank state where the print part 155 does not exist is thereafter formed on the tape 150 ′ with print. Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S 310 .
  • step S 310 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived at the cutting position by the above described cutter mechanism 30 (a cutting position such as where the total length along the transport direction of the tape 150 ′′ with print wound as the tape roll R 2 with print on the winding core 41 becomes the length intended by the operator), in accordance with the total length data acquired in the above described step S 203 . If the feeding has not arrived at the cutting position, the condition is not satisfied (S 310 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state. If the feeding has arrived at the cutting position, the condition is satisfied (S 310 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 315 .
  • step S 315 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 , and stops the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 .
  • the feeding of the above described print-receiving tape 150 , the tape 150 ′ with print, and the tape 150 ′′ with print is stopped.
  • step S 320 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuit 222 , drives the above described cutter motor MC, and cuts the tape 150 ′′ with print by the operation of the above described cutter mechanism 30 .
  • step S 325 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuit 219 , starts the driving of the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and takes up the tape 150 ′′ with print on the outer circumference part of the winding core 41 of the take-up mechanism 40 .
  • step S 330 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not a predetermined amount of time has passed since the cutting operation of the cutter mechanism 30 in the above described step S 320 . If the predetermined amount of time has not passed, the condition is not satisfied (S 330 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state. This predetermined amount of time may be an amount of time for sufficiently taking up the tape 150 ′′ with print on the winding core 41 . If the predetermined amount of time has passed, this condition is satisfied (S 330 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 335 .
  • step S 335 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuit 219 and stops the driving of the adhesive take-up motor M 2 .
  • the feeding of the tape is stopped while forming the blackened region Q, stopping the feeding with the printing head 11 , to which current conduction is stopped, facing the inside of the blackened region Q.
  • formation of the blackened region Q by full dot printing is performed.
  • current is conducted to the above described heating elements corresponding to the entire width-direction region of the ink ribbon IK, forming the blackened region Q across substantially the entire tape-width region.
  • cooling is executed if the temperature of the printing head 11 rises to the predetermined print stop temperature T 1 , making it possible to suppress a decrease in durability in the printing head 11 .
  • FIGS. 13A-13C which are the same as those in the above described FIGS. 10A-10D
  • tape feeding is stopped after the blackened region Q is first formed into print in the above described image border area and the transport direction is subsequently turned back as shown in FIG. 13D
  • tape feeding is performed in the reverse direction until the printing head 11 faces the center position of the blackened region Q and then stopped with the printing head 11 facing that position as shown in FIG. 13E .
  • the tape feeding is performed once again in the forward direction, as shown in FIG. 13F .
  • FIG. 14 is a view conceptually showing the relative positional relationship between the printing head 11 and the tape 150 ′′ with print at this time.
  • the pseudo-printing section G that occurs on the tape 150 ′′ with print during the above described stopping is embedded in the blackened region Q that was first formed, reliably making the pseudo-printing section G no longer visible, as shown in FIG. 13G .
  • the following describes the processing content executed by the print control portion 212 A of the CPU 212 for achieving the above described technique in this embodiment, using the flow in FIG. 15 .
  • step S 236 , step S 237 , and step S 238 are newly disposed between step S 235 and step S 240 in FIG. 12
  • step S 249 is disposed in place of step S 245
  • step S 270 is disposed in place of step S 255 , step S 260 , and step S 265 .
  • the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the end position (transport-direction upstream-side end) of the above described blackened region Q by a known technique, based on the print data acquired in the above described step S 204 .
  • the condition of step S 236 is not satisfied (S 236 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until the condition of step S 236 is satisfied.
  • step S 236 If the feeding has arrived at the end position of the above described blackened region Q, the condition of step S 236 is satisfied (S 236 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 237 .
  • the print data for forming the blackened region Q at this time is stored in the RAM 213 in advance, for example.
  • step S 237 the print control portion 212 A, similar to the above described step S 265 , outputs a control signal to the printing head control circuit 221 , controls the current conduction to the heating elements of the printing head 11 , and stops print formation of the above described blackened region Q.
  • step S 238 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 , controls the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 , and starts tape feeding in the reverse direction. Subsequently, after the print control portion 212 A has determined whether or not the tape feeding has arrived at the center position of the above described blackened region Q in the same step S 240 as described above, the flow proceeds to the newly disposed step S 249 .
  • step S 249 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 , controls the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 , and stops the above described tape feeding. Subsequently, after the print control portion 212 A has determined whether or not a production restart instruction signal from the cooling control portion 212 B has been input in the same step S 250 as described above, the flow proceeds to the newly disposed step S 270 .
  • step S 270 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 , controls the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 in accordance with the aforementioned acceleration pattern, and restarts the above-described tape feeding in the forward direction and the take-up of the above described tape 150 ′′ with print, accelerating the speed. Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S 300 .
  • the steps S 300 -S 335 thereafter are the same as those in the above described FIG. 12 , and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
  • the flow passes through the states respectively shown in FIGS. 16A-16C , which are the same as those in FIG. 10A-10D , the print-receiving tape 150 is fed in the forward direction until the printing head 11 faces the center of the image boundary area (after printing has stopped immediately before the printing head 11 arrives at the center of the above described image border area) as shown in FIG. 16D , and then tape feeding is stopped with the printing head 11 facing the center. Then, when feeding is subsequently restarted, first tape feeding is performed in the reverse direction until the printing head 11 faces the tip end (transport-direction downstream-side end) position of the above described blackened region Q, as shown in FIG. 16E .
  • FIG. 16F is a view conceptually showing the relative positional relationship between the printing head 11 and the tape 150 ′′ with print at this time.
  • step S 230 -S 238 in FIG. 15 are omitted, and step S 252 , step S 253 , step S 254 , step S 260 , and step S 265 are disposed in place of step S 270 in FIG. 15 .
  • step S 252 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 , controls the driving of the feeding motor Ml, the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 , and starts tape feeding in the reverse direction, in the same manner as in step S 238 in the above described FIG. 15 .
  • step S 253 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the start position (transport-direction downstream-side end) of the above described blackened region Q in the border area between the two adjacent images IM, IM by a known technique, based on the print data acquired in the above described step S 204 , in the same manner as in step S 230 in the above described FIG. 12 and FIG. 15 .
  • the condition of step S 253 is not satisfied (S 253 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until the condition of step S 253 is satisfied. If the feeding has arrived at the start position of the above described blackened region Q, the condition of step S 253 is satisfied (S 253 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 254 .
  • step S 254 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 , controls the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 in accordance with the above described acceleration pattern, and restarts the above-described tape feeding and the take-up of the above described tape 150 ′′ with print, accelerating the speed. Additionally, the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the printing head control circuit 221 , conducts current to the heating elements of the printing head 11 , and starts print formation of the above described blackened region Q. Note that the print data for forming the blackened region Q at this time is stored in the RAM 213 in advance, for example. Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S 260 .
  • the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the end position of the above described blackened region Q in the same step S 260 as that in the above described FIG. 12 , and then stops conducting current to the heating elements of the printing head 11 , stopping print formation of the above described blackened region Q, in the same step S 265 as that in the above described FIG. 12 .
  • the subsequent steps S 300 -S 335 are the same as those in the above described FIG. 15 , and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
  • one-half of the above described blackened region Q is formed up to the substantial center, and feeding is further performed to an area corresponding to three-fourths of the transport-direction length of the blackened region Q while print formation is suspended, and then turned back to the reverse direction. Then, the printing head 11 is made to face the area corresponding to one-fourth of the transport-direction length of the blackened region Q and stopped, and then the blackened region Q is once again formed along the forward direction.
  • the flow passes through the states respectively shown in FIG. 19A-19B , which are the same as those in FIG. 10A-10D , and print formation is stopped when the printing head 11 faces the center of the above described blackened region Q, as shown in FIG. 19C .
  • feeding further advances in the forward direction and is performed until the printing head 11 faces the position corresponding to three-fourths of the transport-direction length of the blackened region Q, as shown in FIG. 19D .
  • tape feeding is turned back and performed in the reverse direction, and then stopped once the printing head 11 faces the position corresponding to one-fourth of the transport-direction length of the above described blackened region Q.
  • FIG. 19F the blackened region Q is formed by the printing head 11 while tape feeding is turned back and performed once again in the forward direction.
  • print formation is performed from the position corresponding to one-fourth of the transport-direction length of the above described blackened region Q to the end (transport-direction upstream-side end) of the blackened region Q, thereby performing print formation in duplicate from the position corresponding to one-fourth of the transport-direction length of the above described blackened region Q to the center.
  • FIG. 20 is a view conceptually showing the relative positional relationship between the printing head 11 and the tape 150 ′′ with print at this time.
  • the pseudo-printing section G is positioned within the above described blackened region Q previously formed during through-down in the forward direction and, when feeding is performed in the reverse direction and further in the forward direction after cooling is canceled, overwriting is performed so that the above described pseudo-printing section G is further filled in at the time of formation of the blackened region Q during through-up, as shown in FIG. 19G .
  • step S 230 , step S 235 , step S 242 , step S 243 , step S 244 , step S 247 , and step S 248 are disposed in place of step S 240 in FIG. 18
  • step S 256 is disposed in place of steps S 252 -S 254 in FIG. 18 .
  • step S 230 similar to the above described FIG. 12 , after the print control portion 212 A has determined whether or not tape feeding has arrived at the start position of the above described blackened region Q, in step S 235 , print formation of the blackened region Q is started in the same manner as described above. Note that the print data for forming the blackened region Q at this time is stored in the RAM 213 in advance, for example.
  • step S 242 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the position corresponding to one-half (the transport-direction center) of the above described blackened region Q by a known technique, based on the print data acquired in the above described step S 204 .
  • the condition of step S 242 is not satisfied (S 242 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until the condition of step S 242 is satisfied. If the feeding has arrived at the position corresponding to one-half of the above described blackened region Q, the condition of step S 242 is satisfied (S 242 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 243 .
  • step S 243 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the printing head control circuit 221 , and stops conducting current to the heating elements of the printing head 11 and print formation of the above described blackened region Q, in the same manner as in step S 265 in the above described FIG. 18 .
  • step S 244 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the position corresponding to three-fourths of the transport-direction length of the above described blackened region Q by a known technique, based on the print data acquired in the above described step S 204 .
  • the condition of step S 244 is not satisfied (S 244 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until the condition of step S 244 is satisfied. If the feeding has arrived at the position corresponding to three-fourths of the above described blackened region Q, the condition of step S 244 is satisfied (S 244 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 247 .
  • step S 247 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 , controls the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 , and starts tape feeding in the reverse direction, in the same manner as in step S 252 in the above described FIG. 18 .
  • step S 248 the print control portion 212 A determines whether or not the above described tape feeding in the reverse direction has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the position corresponding to one-fourth of the transport-direction length of the above described blackened region Q by a known technique, based on the print data acquired in the above described step S 204 .
  • the condition of step S 248 is not satisfied (S 248 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until the condition of step S 248 is satisfied. If the feeding has arrived at the position corresponding to one-fourth of the above described blackened region Q, the condition of step S 248 is satisfied (S 248 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 249 .
  • step S 249 the tape feeding in the reverse direction is stopped in the same manner as in the above described FIG. 18 . Subsequently, after the print control portion 212 A has determined whether or not a production restart instruction signal from the cooling control portion 212 B has been input in the same step S 250 as described above, the flow proceeds to the newly disposed step S 256 .
  • step S 256 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 218 , 219 , 220 , controls the driving of the feeding motor M 1 , the adhesive take-up motor M 2 , and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 in accordance with the above described acceleration pattern, and restarts the above-described tape feeding and the take-up of the above described tape 150 ′′ with print, accelerating the speed. Additionally, the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the printing head control circuit 221 , conducts current to the heating elements of the printing head 11 , and starts print formation of the above described blackened region Q. Subsequently, the flow proceeds to step S 260 .
  • the steps S 260 -S 335 thereafter are the same as those in the above described FIG. 18 , and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
  • the same advantages as those of the above described embodiment are achieved. That is, even if the pseudo-printing section G occurs at the time of cooling execution, the pseudo-printing section G is positioned within the above described blackened region Q previously formed during through-down, and overwriting is further performed so that the pseudo-printing section is filled in at the time of formation of the blackened region Q during the through-up after cooling is canceled. As a result, it is possible to reliably improve aesthetics.
  • FIG. 19D feeding is performed until the printing head 11 faces the position corresponding to three-fourths of the transport-direction length of the blackened region Q (while the above described take-up side is continuously slackened).
  • FIG. 22E corresponding to FIG. 19E tape feeding is turned back and performed in the reverse direction to the position corresponding to one-fourth of the transport-direction length of the above described blackened region Q while the above described slackened section is extended, and then stopped (thereby resolving the entire aforementioned slackened section).
  • FIGS. 22F-22G corresponding to FIGS. 19F-19G
  • the remaining three-fourths of the blackened region Q are formed into print at once by the printing head 11 while the tape feeding is turned backed and performed once again in the forward direction, in the same manner as described above.
  • step S 239 and step S 241 are newly disposed between step S 235 and step S 242 in the above described FIG. 21 .
  • step S 239 the print control portion 212 A, similar to step S 248 in FIG. 21 , determines whether or not the above described tape feeding in the reverse direction has arrived where the printing head 11 faces the position corresponding to one-fourth of the transport-direction length of the above described blackened region Q by a known technique, based on the print data acquired in the above described step S 204 .
  • step S 239 During the period in which the feeding has not arrived at the position corresponding to one-fourth of the above described blackened region Q, the condition of step S 239 is not satisfied (S 239 : NO), and the flow loops back and enters a standby state until the condition of step S 239 is satisfied. If the feeding has arrived at the position corresponding to one-fourth of the above described blackened region Q, the condition of step S 239 is satisfied (S 239 : YES), and the flow proceeds to step S 241 .
  • step S 241 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 219 , 220 , controls the driving of the adhesive take-up motor M 2 and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 , and stops the take-up of the tape 150 ′′ with print on the outer circumference side of the winding core 41 and the take-up of the separation material layer 151 on the separation material roll R 3 .
  • step S 242 the print control portion 212 A outputs a control signal to the motor driving circuits 219 , 220 , controls the driving of the adhesive take-up motor M 2 and the separation sheet take-up motor M 3 , and stops the take-up of the tape 150 ′′ with print on the outer circumference side of the winding core 41 and the take-up of the separation material layer 151 on the separation material roll R 3 .
  • Steps S 242 and thereafter are the same as those in FIG. 21 , and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
  • the print control portion 212 A controls the stopping and restarting of tape feeding and print formation in accordance with a pause instruction signal output from the cooling control portion 212 B during cooling execution
  • the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, for example, the above described technique may be applied in a case where a pause instruction signal output from the operation part 216 (or the above described PC 217 ) is input to the print control portion 212 A based on an emergency stop operation of the operation part 216 (or the above described PC 217 ) by the user, and the stopping and restarting of the above described tape feeding and print formation are controlled in accordance thereto. In this case as well, the same advantages are achieved.

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JP6421846B2 (ja) * 2016-09-26 2018-11-14 カシオ計算機株式会社 印刷装置、印刷方法、及び、プログラム
JP6703749B2 (ja) * 2016-09-30 2020-06-03 ブラザー工業株式会社 印刷装置
JP6908895B2 (ja) * 2018-03-30 2021-07-28 ブラザー工業株式会社 印刷装置
JP2021154687A (ja) 2020-03-30 2021-10-07 セイコーエプソン株式会社 テープ印刷装置およびテープ印刷装置の制御方法
JP7088233B2 (ja) * 2020-05-08 2022-06-21 カシオ計算機株式会社 印刷装置、印刷方法、及びプログラム

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JPH0538854A (ja) 1991-08-02 1993-02-19 Brother Ind Ltd テープ印字装置
JPH05185673A (ja) 1992-01-13 1993-07-27 Brother Ind Ltd テープ印字装置
JPH06155833A (ja) 1992-11-18 1994-06-03 Brother Ind Ltd テープ印字装置
JPH06198988A (ja) 1992-12-30 1994-07-19 Casio Comput Co Ltd 印字装置
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JP2002254757A (ja) 2001-02-28 2002-09-11 Canon Ntc Inc 長尺印刷媒体印刷装置
US20070086056A1 (en) 2005-10-19 2007-04-19 Wen-Hung Hsieh Method of image processing for heat accumulation of a thermal printer
US20110018918A1 (en) * 2009-07-22 2011-01-27 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Printer
JP2011230428A (ja) 2010-04-28 2011-11-17 Max Co Ltd 印字装置
JP2013202950A (ja) 2012-03-28 2013-10-07 Brother Industries Ltd 印刷装置
JP2013233663A (ja) 2012-05-02 2013-11-21 Brother Industries Ltd 粘着テープ印刷装置

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JPH0538854A (ja) 1991-08-02 1993-02-19 Brother Ind Ltd テープ印字装置
JPH05185673A (ja) 1992-01-13 1993-07-27 Brother Ind Ltd テープ印字装置
JPH06155833A (ja) 1992-11-18 1994-06-03 Brother Ind Ltd テープ印字装置
JPH06198988A (ja) 1992-12-30 1994-07-19 Casio Comput Co Ltd 印字装置
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JP2002254757A (ja) 2001-02-28 2002-09-11 Canon Ntc Inc 長尺印刷媒体印刷装置
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US20110018918A1 (en) * 2009-07-22 2011-01-27 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Printer
JP2011042160A (ja) 2009-07-22 2011-03-03 Brother Industries Ltd 印刷装置
JP2011230428A (ja) 2010-04-28 2011-11-17 Max Co Ltd 印字装置
JP2013202950A (ja) 2012-03-28 2013-10-07 Brother Industries Ltd 印刷装置
JP2013233663A (ja) 2012-05-02 2013-11-21 Brother Industries Ltd 粘着テープ印刷装置

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